Master Jamie has unfinished business in The Archer

Trainer Graeme Green concedes the extraordinary racing journey of Master Jamie is nearing an end but he still has some unfinished business starting with the $775,000 The Archer on his home track at Rockhampton on Sunday.

STRAIT ACER.
STRAIT ACER. Picture: Steve Hart

Master Jamie - a seven-year-old - was a $10,000 buy as a yearling at the Magic Millions March sales at the Gold Coast and has gone on to bank more than $1 million in prize money.

Master Jamie and his regular rider Les Tilley face off against a slick field headed by the Edward Cummings-trained Sydney sprinter Strait Acer in the 1300 metre feature.

Green is taking it one race at a time with Master Jamie who is coming off a last start third to the Stuart Kendrick-trained Hard Reyva in a 1200 metre Open Handicap at Callaghan Park last week.

"He's a seven-year-old now and so far there are no issues and all is going well with him," Green said.

"But, he'll be retired straight away when the first sign comes that something is affecting him.

"He's been a marvellous horse who I bought for $10,000 and he's won over $1 million in prize money."

All going well, Green has pencilled in the Rockhampton Cup and Cleveland Bay Handicap in Townsville as his winter assignments.

Master Jamie has drawn awkwardly in barrier 12 but it doesn't faze Green.

"He's won the last two Rockhampton Cups from wide gates so this is no different," Green said.

"I prefer him out wide as I don't like to see him get squeezed up on the inside.

"He can still lead from out there but there's some speed just on his inside so he should get a good suck across."

Compared to his last start when he lumped 67.5kgs, Master Jamie has a "feather weight" 59kgs in The Archer.

"He's won the last two Rocky Cups carrying 59.5kgs and his last run with 67.5kgs was very good," Green said.

"I didn't want him to have a gut buster before this and he only got beaten just over a length carrying 14kgs more than the winner."

Green is hoping the notorious long straight at Callaghan Park can again prove the undoing for visiting horses.

"Horses from down south who have never raced at Rocky often come unstuck very quickly," Green said.

"It's happened to Gai Waterhouse, Ciaron Maher, Annabel Neasham and a few others in past years."

Master Jamie tried to win The Archer two years ago but beat only two home behind inaugural race winner Emerald Kingdom.

Rockhampton Jockey Club chairman Rob Carr owns Master Jamie's slot in The Archer and will be aiming for his second win in the feature after holding Emerald Kingdom's winning slot.


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